Process of separating the hydrocarbons contained in natural gas.



H. KOPPERS. PROCESS OF SEPARATING THE HYDROGARBONS CONTAINED IN NATURAL GAS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1913.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

UNITED @TA'I'ES' PTENT OFFICE.

HEINRICH KOPPERS, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO H. KOPPERS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION.

PROCESS OF SEPARATING THE HYDROCARBONS CONTAINED IN NATURAL GAS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HEINRICH Korrnns, engineer, residing at Moltkestrasse 29, Essen-on-the-Ruhr, in Prussia, Germany, have invented a certain new and useful Process of Separating the Hydrocarbons Contained in Natural Gas, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel process of separating hydrocarbons contained in the natural gas, which process is preferably carried out in an apparatus such as shown in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 a cross section of the apparatus.

The apparatus is in the form of a bell washer of known type, comprising a plurality ofsuperimposed divisions 10, provided with bases 11. Each chamber has an inlet conduit 12 and a discharge conduit 13, the chambers 10 being so arranged relatively to each other that the inlet conduit of one chamber forms an extension of the discharge conduit of the other chamber. In the bases 11 there are slots 1 1 having a raised edge 15, overwhich are placed caps 16, said caps having jagged openings 17. The uppermost division 10 has an inlet pipe 18 for the wash ing oil and a discharge pipe 19 for the gas. The lowermost division is provided with a discharge pipe 20 for the washing oil. The whole apparatus is inclosed in a wrought-- iron casing 21 through which the pipes 18, 19, 20 pass, while the pipe 22 for introducing the gas to be washed is connected to the outer casing 21, a hole 23 giving access to the inner washing apparatus.

The washing oil introduced at a suitable pressure through the pipe 18 successively fills the several divisions 10 by flowing over the caps 16 to the outlet 13, whence it passes by way of the inlet 12 into the next chamber. The gas under pressure to be washed enters by way of the pipe 22 into the intermediate space between the outer casing 21 and the inner washing apparatus, whence it passes through the opening 23 into the lowermost division. The gas then passes through the slots 14; and the tooth shaped openings 17 into the washing liquid, whereby a free 8X. changing action is caused to take place. The

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 8, 1913.

washed gas leaves the apparatus ,by the, pipe 19.

Patented A11 18, 1914.

Serial No. 777,830.

he object of the special construction of the apparatus described is as follows: Vvrou ht iron is a metal capable of withstanding high pressures, on the other hand, however, it is more liable to be chemically attacked than cast iron, and the possibilities of shaping wrought iron are limited. As a cast-iron washing apparatus of this description cannot very well be built for high pressures the wrought iron casing is provided to take the pressure so that compensation between the outer and inner super-pressure is provided. In this manner the gas can be washed under pressure while retaining the approved forms of bell washers. The detail construction is immaterial, the point being to enable the washing device of any desired shape to be made of cast-iron which has more resistance from a chemical point of view, while avoiding danger of destruction by the pressure present.

\Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. Process of separating hydrocarbons contained in the natural gas which consists in driving said gas under pressure into a wrought iron jacket, and conveying the gas from said jacket into a cast iron bell washer inclosed by the jacket and containing a hylrocarbon-dissolving oil, whereby the bell washer is subjected to like exterior and interior pressure.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a cast iron bell washer, a wrought iron casing surrounding washer to form an intervening acket, means for admitting a gas under pressure into said jacket, and means for admitting said gas from the jacket into the bell. washer, whereby the gas pressure is taken up by the wrought iron casing while the cast iron bell washer is relieved by being'subjectedtolike exterior and interior pressure.

' In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HEINRICH KOPPERS.

Witnesses I'IENRY HAsPER, WOLDEMAR' HAUPT.

said 

